Washington State History Museum announcement.

Tacoma, WA – The Washington State History Museum The annual exhibition of contemporary works by Native American artists returns this summer. Presented from June 16 to September 11, 2022, the exhibition-competition presents 38 original works by 26 artists. Although most performers are from the Pacific Northwest, entries for IN THE SPIRIT Contemporary Indigenous Arts came from as far away as Dameron, Maryland and Haines, Alaska, with several entries from British Columbia as well.

A variety of forms and mediums will be featured, including textiles, sculpture, basketry, painting, sculpture, mixed media, glass and digital works. Each work in the gallery will be accompanied by an artist statement.

Shana Yellow Calf Lukinich, Northern Arapaho, has a pair of colorful paintings on display; this is his first year participating in IN THE SPIRIT. “For me to be part of this exhibit is an honor and allows me to share my contemporary style of Native American art, which is a blend of Pacific Northwest, Plains and Chippewa/Métis art, and represents the blending nations in vibrant colors,” she said. “This exhibit opens the doors to a more contemporary look and style of Native American art and allows me to show others my rich heritage, my influences and my education.”

Statements by artists often share their inspirations and influences. Stunning artwork by PḰȺELWEȽTEN Charles W Bloomfield (Pyramid Lake Paiute) speaks to the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and people. His statement, Bloomfield describes In memory of the disappeared and the murdered, created with ink on a woolen blanket over the shape of a coiled human body: “They are our sisters, mothers, cousins, brothers, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, grandparents, children, neighbors, teachers, artists, friends. They are our relatives. They are also missing or presumed murdered. … We yearn to find them, to bring them back to their people, to their land and to their ancestors so that they can be put to rest in a respectful and good way. … We need the world to know the horrific statistics of violence against us as a people, to stop fetishizing our women, to see us as a people who deserve human rights, dignity and respect. Bloomfield is an award-winning artist whose works have been included in a number of precedents IN THE SPIRIT exhibitions, and he also participated in the advisory committee and as a former juror of the exhibition.

Like Bloomfield, a number of artists in the 2022 exhibition have featured work in previous years. Some of the artists who may be familiar to visitors include Sonia Barry (Aleut), Celeste Dybeck (Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe), Chenoa Egawa (Coast Salish of the Lummi and S’Klallam Nations), Denise L. Emerson (Navajo and Registered Skokomish ), Carly Feddersen (Colville Confederated Tribes), Sean Gallagher (Inupiat), Linley Logan (Seneca Nation), Cynthia Masterson (Comanche), Annette Pierce (Kalispel Tribe), Ayanna Proctor (Piscataway Conoy Tribe of the Chesapeake region) and Jennifer Angaiak Wood (Yup’ik). It’s also exciting to see new artists participate in this remarkable exhibition with each new iteration.

As part of the exhibition, artists have the opportunity to receive prizes. the IN THE MIND Artist Awards 2022 will be presented on opening night, Thursday, June 16, at 6:00 p.m. Guests can enjoy light refreshments, explore the exhibit and hear from some of the award-winning artists and jurors. Admission to the museum is free from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on June 16.

Each iteration of IN THE SPIRIT is made up of works submitted by artists for consideration through a blind jury process (meaning the identity of the artist is not revealed when works are presented for consideration). Jurors are professional artists or work in the fine arts. The Historical Society is grateful to the 2022 jurors, Alyne DeCoteau (Yakama and Cayuse), HollyAnna CougarTracks DeCoteau Littlebull (Yakama, Nez Percé, Cayuse, Scream) and JD Olney Shellenberger (Yakama).

In addition to working with jurors, the Historical Society’s collections and exhibits teams work with an Indigenous Advisory Committee to shape the exhibit and the accompanying IN THE SPIRIT Arts Market & Northwest Native Festival. The free indoor/outdoor festival will be held August 6 in conjunction with the Tacoma Art Museum and the Museum of Glass, and includes an artist vendor market, cultural music and dance, an Indigenous designer fashion show , opportunities for artistic creation and free access. at the three museums for the day.

Also of note, active duty military families can see IN THE SPIRIT free until September 4. The Washington State History Museum is offering free admission for active-duty military members and up to five family members with identification from May 21 through September 4 as part of the Blue Star Museums program.

Get all the details for IN THE SPIRIT Contemporary Indigenous Arts exposure to www.WashingtonHistory.org/in-the-spirit.